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Monday, 25 April 2016

Do You Follow Trends?

I wouldn't define myself as a trendy person. By the time I get around to sewing the "latest trend" it is typically gone. I watch for the latest must have fashion trends just for entertainment, rarely because I'm dying to jump in. But here is a "must-have fashion trend for 2016" that I must admit I do like. The off-the-shoulder look.

Of course, this look has no place in my everyday life without a deluxe roll of double sided tape. Working in a school environment is a very physical job, this is not the sort of look I could pull off at work life. If I were a woman of leisure or off to some beach side restaurant to have lunch, it might work.

I was surprised that this look is being shown as a to-watch-trend but I couldn't find too much evidence of it in the new spring releases from McCall's, Butterick, and Vogue.

I was, however, able to find some off-the-shoulder looks in the current offerings from previous releases. With the exception of Gertie's new one-shoulder dress. Nothing as modern edgy and chic as the black RTW top from Zara shown above. The pattern offerings from the major four pattern companies seem to be mostly made up of reincarnated seventies bohemian chic.

Lovely if you can pull off the look but I'm a middle aged (ouch, that hurt) lady with a bit of a mid-section (need to hit the gym) who fantasizes of being dressed as stylishly as the folks on Advanced Style. Except, I'm eating Nicoise Salad at some beach-side restaurant somewhere in Europe. I'm not asking for much, am I?

Call me foolish or call me a risk-taker, but I think I found a pattern in my stash that might work despite Halliday's dire warnings. Vogue 1038 is a dramatic off-the-shoulder tunic that looks stunning with capris. I know this to be true because a fabulous version has been modelled by Tia Dia over at Mezzo Couture. Forget about trying to recreate that Zara top, I'll be sewing this Donna Karan design (and will make my own Nicoise Salad).

How about you, will you be sewing the off-the-shoulder look this season?

Hi,Hot Patterns has a great off shoulder, the "Metropolitan Urban Gypsy Blouse". It is # 1196. It also has a view with straps. I love her patterns, all sizes in one envelope, heavy paper, not tissue and they post lots of guidance on their website. They have 20% off sales quite often and if I am ordering a few patterns and shipping gets expensive, I have them shipped to the border at Pembina to Mike's Parcel Pickup and when I get a little stash of things there, I run down and pick everything up. Customs have never charged me as I guess they see I have crossed within the hour.Patricia

I am a trend follower but I find that unless I buy it, I'm too late to the party to sew it. I have to strongly refrain from buying a trendy pattern for this reason. Thanks for pointing out the Donna Karan pattern. I have that one. The off the shoulder look is totally unsuitable for a short petite relatively top heavy person like me but I might try and make it in a dark soft sheer gauzey fabric and maybe it'll work.